All About Montessori

[buds]

Bagabunny, I have replied to your PM.

[bagabunny]

hello buds! yes I’ve read ur pm. been sch visiting lately and also reading up a lot on Montessori. I really like the books you have recommended. I wished spore could really adopt Montessori like in the US. have u read the book ’ Toto chan’? always my wish that our children can have such freedom and yet enjoy schooling so much. sorry side tracked…


anyway I had a very bad experience with a Montessori sch. left me high and dry, sad and very hurt.
will update u again with my new findings and readings.

btw the playdate is serious hor…

[buds]

The Sensitive Period (2) : Sense of order


I am a little rusty with the theoretical portions of the Montessori Method of Education so as I journal my thoughts in my writings, I revisit the wonderful history and the enlightening journey of Dr Maria Montessori.

Feeling rather sated at this moment, as I allow myself to further deepen my understanding of her work as I (myself) work with chubs (as I go along). It's like I have her in spirit, guiding me in my ways and endeavours.

In one of those lecture sessions, where I was weary from work I remember being quite drawn in when I listened to how Dr Maria reviewed her work while she worked with the children in Casa Dei Bambini.

Sometime in 1906, Dr Maria Montessori's methods had not been perfected as yet. Through her observation, she began to realize that children should be given the freedom of choice.. What happened was, when the materials were being taken out from unlocked cupboards, the children were working with them on their own. She realized that children could develop order in life when the children followed behind her while she went to return her materials. The children too returned their materials to the respective shelves/places.

The philosophy of the Absorbent Mind serves two stages in a child's life.

0-3 Unconscious Mind
3-6 Conscious Mind

When a child interacts with the environment, it will be absorbed in his unconscious mind, into his psychic life. The conscious mind later looks back (3-6 yrs) on what the unconscious has to offer.

It is within this said phase : Sensitive Periods, that children realize a sense of order... and where the children can categorize through perceptions via an inner conceptual framework which in turn allows him to relate to the environment.

It took chubs many many repetitions which helped him achieve a sense of order working with materials. Repetition offers refinement of the senses, and in the event of success the satisfaction derives from the success in itself for no other rewards. This trait carries on well later on in life.

Similar to how I have worked with my girls, the contentment they get from achieving their personal best in their education journey thus far, is not from any carrots we dangle in front of them (not that we have any to begin with), but from the repetition (of sheer hard work) to reach the level they are now. DD1 is P6 and DD2 is now P4. It was a touching moment to learn from DD2 that she was planning to share her merit bursary of ($200) with us. This award is disbursed to children who maintain a good academic performance and conduct in school and is within the top 25% of the cohort each year.

http://i53.tinypic.com/2mh2zc.jpg\">

For chubs, his satisfaction from completion is at the point when he returns his material back to the shelf... like this one above.

This material is called a Knobbed Cylinder and is extremely heavy for a boy his age (2yrs) old to even lift. However, it is in the manner that we encourage independence in a Montessori environment that offers children security. Having the Directress around to observe assures the children that should at any time at all, any assistance is required, we are on hand anytime. In chubs case, when he was done working with the Knobbed Cylinder he said..

Chubs : Mom.. done. I keep. Mom help. It's heavy.

Me : Ok. Mommy is here. You try to keep. Yes, it is heavy. Very very heavy but chubs is strong. You can do it. Tell Mommy if it is really too heavy for you to keep it yourself.

Chubs : Ok Mommy. I try. I'm strong. Chubs is strong. Mommy *help.
(*stressing that I WILL indeed help if he requested it).

As he squatted down, picked up the Knobbed Cylinder with both his hands... he struggled to get up for a bit. Then as he waddled into our work room, I offered...

Me : Chubs need help?

Chubs : Chubs done. Keep. Chubs strong.

http://i52.tinypic.com/4grxjl.png\">

Me : Yes, very strong. You kept it yourself. Good job.
Would you like to work on another one?

Chubs : Ok, mommy. :please:



....another satisfying work day at home.. :love:

[mscarpediem]

Hi,


I’ve been browsing this thread for some time but am only posting now. Thanks you buds (have I gotten the spelling right? It is hard to read well through a smartphone screen!) for many of your sharing, I’ve learned alot.

I’m looking for a good montessori pre-school (more focused on kindergarten now but I won’t rule out good childcare choices) hopefully around the Yishun area. Which are good Montessori pre-schools in the area which uses the cda account funds?

Another page of this web-site had mentioned Greentree Montessori as an authentic Montessori school, I wonder if it is a good school? (I’m wondering more in terms of the teacher-student interraction.) Was disappointed that the directress/principal did not allow us to visit the pre-school during lesson time as I feel the people-interraction portion is an important component and Iwouldn’t be able to see for myself.

How about Singapore Montessori in Thomson area?

[ocearth]

Heya Buds… Ur avatar "tooooo heavy" for my eyes…


Anyway back for some quick updates on my son’s progress in SunnyBunny Bedok.

It’s only 2 short weeks and i can’t tell much but my son seems to enjoy school. I do take a peep now and then (very curious n also wonders how my son is in schl), i can see the directress engaging him and the other 3 (now 2) students…(total 3 students in the class, 3 to 4yrs old mixed). Saw hin rolling the mat once n it was an cute image.

There’s no comm bk but i get feedbks frm the directress everyday coz i keep asking.
Cons: no field trips, less involvment with other kids, only one English speaking directress(frm south africa)
May need to reconsider sending him to schl where there focus on chinese.
Pros: Son has alot directress attention n guidance.

It’ll be a pity if i pull him out of the schl, but got think how to blend in the Chinese part… Can’t do w/o that.

PM the operator Anna but no response so well, gotto look around soon i guess

[buds]

Hi mscarpediem, hi to you too .... You are welcome as well. Sharings are free and I do it only when i'm a little free. I'm an apple addict and can work well around different situations including when i am bf-ing the boys. My iphone died on me a month now and i'm just plugging it in everyday to see if i can revive it. It does turn on and off at times so i guess it's gonna really die soon. I've been getting iphone withdrawals since. So these days, i reply straight from the Mac.


Truth be told, I have not gone out in full force with preschool shopping since hubs thinks chubs doesn't need it yet plus like all our other children (our two girls) they too attended school late. Yes he saves a lot on preschool! But it doesn't translate to me getting more.

I have to honestly share with you that i am no pure Montessorian. I believe that there isn't one ultimate method for things to get done... including educating children... especially since i first came from mainstream environment/industry myself prior to finding my passion in Montessori Education.

There are pros and cons of the authentic Montessori but that's me. I look out more for teacher quality because the early years needs a person who can inspire a child's learning journey (ahead)... not just on the now. I didn't realise they don't do visits! But did they explain why? I love to see class in action. I allow visits as well (before) and even trial lessons. How better to know the parent and the child (the potential customer) better than offering them a good peek, aye? But again that's just me. There usually is concern over parents disrupting children's concentration during visits but this is (most times) easily solved by running thru quick class rules to our visitors.

Never been to SM in Thomson before. Cannot comment. Too far to travel with so many kids.

[ocearth]

Plus.. I came abt a link on alot stuff on Montessori, some may find its useful


Here's the link:
http://mamato3blessings.blogspot.sg/2013/02/thrifty-homemade-montessori-ideas-for.html?m=1

[buds]

I have come across this before and MORE! The sharings on Montessori in cyberspace is aplenty! The possibilities are endless!


..... and yes, Montessori Education can start from home!

Thanks for sharing with all! :grphug:

[bagabunny]

hi…

can anyone tell me if it really matters if th Montessori materials are of original actual size?
I have visited a few schools which are not. Their golden beads, multiplication boards, knobbed cylinders are not.
I understand that the sensorial materials are used to help in the pincer grip as well as general motor skills, thus, I thought the actual size that Dr Maria Montessori designed would matter.

for mathematical materials I’m not sure though. if the general function is there then should it suffice?

[buds]

Hi.. 1 question from me first, if i may? :please:


Did you bring up this query to the centres you visited?